John Mara: Not expecting playoff expansion vote this year

While expanding the playoff field from 12 teams to 14 seems inevitable, it won’t be happening this year.

Though such a sudden change hasn’t been ruled out by commissioner Roger Goodell, Giants president John Mara, a member of the competition committee, said a change this year would be unlikely.

“I don’t think it’s going to happen this year,” Mara told Bob Glauber of Newsday. “I think it’s kind of late. We have a May [20th owners] meeting [in Atlanta], but I sense that we’ll wait a year before we do that. It hasn’t been voted on yet. . . .

“[The league] would notify us in advance, but I’m thinking it’s probably not going to happen for another year or so. My guess is that it’s going to pass at some point.”

Since the topic didn’t come up in recent meetings between the NFL and the NFLPA, it seems everyone’s content to let this one slide for a year, though a larger playoff field is coming.

They already have enough teams in the playoffs. You are going to end up with a 6 win team one of these days because the league as a whole has become so mediocre. Teams have no depth. Last season had compelling games at the end because there are so few playoff spots. If you are going to expand the playoffs at least get rid of the preseason. Let’s try not to be like the NBA or NHL (though I love basketball and hockey) that have long seasons that are basically meaningless since half the teams get in.

One of the things that separates this league from the others is that the regular season is so meaningful every week.

It’s bad enough when you have 9-7 teams in the playoffs and actually advancing. That means the regular season is actually meaningless. That also means much to vehement objection of the powers that be in the NFL that your league isn’t so great in quality when that happens.

If you expand the playoffs you’ll now have 8-8 and 7-9 teams in the playoffs. You’re now the NBA.

Remember the Mark Cuban apocalypse prediction? It’s going to come true. It’s not one single event that will cause it like a steroid scandal, but a host of things like trying to get football on 4 days a week as he predicted, and, yes, having 8-8 teams winning Super Bowls. If that can happen, that means you’re actually a lousy league.

It will be many things that on their own seem like no big deal, but grouped together will bring down the league.

It’s coming. Just like Captain Smith ordered full ahead while those lesser on the scale were screaming iceberg straight ahead. It wasn’t even possible ice would be in that area, right? Yet it was there now wasn’t it. Just like it’s impossible this league will ever collapse because it’s impossible the fans will lose interest.

Mark Cuban wants to buy a team … and they won’t let him … so he’s venting. Unfortunately the simple-minded won’t be able to understand this. They’ll think he means what he says. But if he suddenly owned a team then his tune would change instantly.

The owners all love the idea of adding another team to the playoffs, so it will happen. It’s more money for them, the league, and the networks. It’s a win for everyone except the fans. I don’t like the idea of an 8-8 team making the playoffs either for all the same reasons, but it’s sadly going to become a reality by 2015.

I wouldn’t mind seeing 2 more teams make it.Everyone is concerned about 8-8 teams making it but what about a team like Arizona that was 10-6 and left out.Teams are very close anyway.The difference between 8-8 and 10-6 is one or two plays that change a game during the season.And to all the hypocrites out there,if your team has a chance because of the extra teams you’ll be rooting like crazy and don’t say you wouldn’t want to see them get in.